Sofia Quijada
Real Madrid formally opened their electoral process on Thursday, following president Florentino Pérez‘s announcement that he intends to stand in the vote. The club confirmed in an official statement that candidacies can be submitted within a 10-day window, closing on May 23rd.
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The requirements to run are demanding. Candidates must hold 20 years of club membership and provide a financial guarantee of 187 million euros, equivalent to 15 per cent of the club’s annual budget, backed entirely by personal assets.
Pérez, who was re-elected unopposed in January 2025 for a four-year term, declared at a press conference on Tuesday that he will run again. Spanish media reports suggest Enrique Riquelme, president of water and energy group Cox, is considering entering the race. The renewable energy businessman published a letter asking Pérez for additional time to prepare a potential candidacy.
“When I ran in the 2000 elections, I didn’t ask for more time; I ran, and I won.” — Florentino Pérez, speaking on television channel La Sexta, Wednesday
If multiple candidates come forward, the electoral board will set the date and location of the vote. If no challenger materialises, Pérez, 79, retains his position by default, as occurred in the 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2025 elections.
The Spanish businessman first took the Real Madrid presidency in 2000, steering the club through the Galáctico era before resigning in 2006. Since his return in 2009, Real Madrid have collected five Spanish league titles and a remarkable six European cups, along with further silverware across domestic and continental competitions.
Stay with TipsGG for continued coverage of developments at Real Madrid as the electoral window progresses.